What to Expect from an Adult Autism or ADHD Assessment (Step-by-Step)
If you’re considering an adult Autism or ADHD assessment, you might be wondering what the process actually looks like. This guide walks you through each step so you know what to expect.
Before we get into it, I want to name something important: this is a general outline.
How Adult Autism and ADHD Assessments Work
Every assessment I do is different—because every person is different. What I’m describing here is a typical flow, a way to help you understand what the process can look like. But it’s not rigid, and it’s always tailored to you—your experiences, your questions, and what you’re hoping to get out of it.
Even though I do my best to explain my process, it almost always makes more sense face-to-face.
That’s exactly why I offer free consultation calls. You can ask questions (there’s some answers in my FAQs), get a feel for who I am, and see whether we click, and I’ll walk you through the process as much as I can
But more than anything, that consultation is about comfort.
I want you to feel at ease. I want you to get a sense of whether I’m someone you can trust with your story. And I want you to have enough information to decide if you feel confident in my approach.
Step 1: Free Consultation (A “Vibe Check”)
Everything starts here. A brief, informal conversation where we get to know each other and decide whether moving forward feels right.
Step 2: Intake Session
If we decide to continue, we’ll schedule an intake session—about an hour long.
Before we meet, you’ll complete some initial questionnaires and paperwork. The intake gives me space to go deeper. I’ll ask more specific questions based on what you’ve shared so I can really understand the nuances of your experiences—what you meant, what matters most, and where we might focus our work together.
Step 3: Questionnaires and Optional Collateral Input
After the intake, I’ll send additional questionnaires tailored to you—based on what we discussed and what we’re exploring.
If you want, you can also involve other people in your life—like a partner, friend, therapist, or teacher. I may send them questionnaires or invite them to participate in a brief interview (usually with you present).
This kind of input—what we call “collateral information”—can be helpful, but it’s never required. Your own lived experience is valid and sufficient. Everyone brings their own perspective and bias, so outside input is always optional, not essential.
Step 4: Direct Assessment (In-Depth Autism/ADHD Evaluation)
We’ll then meet for about four hours of assessment time, sometimes split into two sessions.
This is where we spend more time talking in depth about your experiences—past and present. I’ll ask structured questions, but there’s also space for your story. We’ll explore your development, your patterns, your strengths, and your challenges.
While I use standardized tools, no two evaluations are the same. Your assessment is shaped by you—your concerns, your history, and what you’re hoping to understand.
Step 5: Your Assessment Report (Strengths, Sensory Profile, and Diagnosis)
After our sessions, I take a few weeks to integrate everything and write your report.
My reports are a little different from what you might expect.
For one, every assessment includes a sensory profile. For many neurodivergent people, that’s a central part of daily life—but it’s often overlooked in traditional evaluations. I make sure it’s included and taken seriously.
If a diagnosis is identified, you’ll see it clearly on the first page—no waiting, no digging.
From there, I walk through:
Your strengths and areas where support may be helpful
What the data shows alongside your lived experience
Personalized recommendations (not generic lists, but what might actually help you)
I also include visuals like graphs when available, along with clear explanations of terms—so your report is something you can come back to and actually understand.
Step 6: Feedback Session and Next Steps
Your evaluation includes a one-hour feedback session where we go over everything together.
That said, many people find they need some time to process. It’s completely normal to read the report, sit with it for a week or two, and then come back with questions. If you want more time, you can always schedule additional sessions.
Who This Type of Assessment Is For
This kind of assessment is often a good fit if you:
are been wondering if you might be Autistic or an ADHDer, or are self-identified/diagnosed.
have been diving into researching your experiences, learning more about neurodivergence, and your TikTok algorithm is calling you out
Have been masking or “getting by” but want deeper understanding
Want clarity about your neurotype in a way that respects your lived experience
Are looking for a neurodiversity-affirming evaluation process
A Collaborative Process
At the core of all of this is one priority: you.
I want this process to feel collaborative, not clinical and distant. The goal is to give you information in a way that is actually useful—something you can understand, apply, and share if you choose.
Whether that’s with other providers, loved ones, or just for your own clarity, the report is meant to support you in a meaningful way.
Because this isn’t just an evaluation.
It’s a tool for understanding yourself more fully.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Feel like this might be for you and you want to chat with me?
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